My Week

Last week was a busy week again. On Monday my son and I went to Home Care Resources, a store that stocks items which are helpful for people with disabilities of various kinds. We looked at a sit-to-stand lift there for Wayne, my husband. I had broken the bow of my glasses on Sunday evening, so on Monday I also tried to get a new bow for them. Well, I was not able to get a replacement bow for my glasses,...

A Picture from “Happy Saturday”

I’m continuing to learn to really appreciate all the moments (big and small) in a day. This picture was taken at the Halloween Parade on Saturday morning. Rees and Marah had a wonderful time and so did we! Hope everyone has a fun Halloween. I know my mother always enjoys watching the kids come up the walk-way....

A Caregiver’s Signature

I came across a piece of artwork recently whose artist had a very distinct signature. When I looked at the signature, I thought, wouldn’t it be nice to have the talent, the independence and the confidence to be able to sign my name to something that only I created. We had a visit from two family members on Thursday. They come twice a year and stay for about three to four hours per visit. This visit...

Happy Saturday!

Donna Webb joined us today on Table Talk; you can listen to our discussion via the player below. Toward the end of our discussion, I asked Donna, who’s mom died August 16: Knowing what you know now, what would tell the Donna you were three years ago? Her answer: Be tenacious in finding help. So, today be tenacious in finding help and accepting happiness in your day. Tell us how you’ll be happy. And,...

October 30, 2010 – A Panorama of the Long Journey

I have been going over the past years in my mind and remembered that two years ago, in October, mum was in the hospital for a colonoscopy. That was when mum was diagnosed as having diverticulitis. During the days when mum was in the hospital, coincidentally, the electric wires to our house were stolen and we woke up without any electricity. As well, my stove caught fire internally and I had to rush out and buy a...

Answers from the Nurse

On Thursday, Jeannie Keenan of My Health Care Manager joined me on Your Caregiving Journey to take your questions. During the show, Jeannie and I answered these questions: 1. I’ve been through so many home health aides! I need to find good help for my mom so I can go to work. I’ve had lazy aides, incompetent aides and aides with an attitude. Is it possible to find good help? 2. I’m just beginning...

Caregiving While Grieving

On Wednesday, on Your Caregiving Journey, Joyce Scott, the grand prize winner of Homewatch CareGivers’s annual Family Caregiver of the Year award. Joyce cares for her husband and her brother. During our discussion, Joyce spoke about caring for her mom, who died in 2008. Joyce still very much misses her mom. Our discussion ended with Joyce sharing a service club she created in her community. You can’t help...

Progress, Maybe?

Last week we implemented a few changes. Steve’s naps were being limited to an hour, he needed to get out of bed within a relatively short amount of time after waking up, and he was to try to get 10,000 steps a day on his pedometer. I appreciate the positive feedback I received here. I did not receive the same response in our support group last Friday. The social worker who runs the group seemed quite upset...

A Tip for a Tough Day: Appoint a Love Substitute

We finished our October class, Making Well for Wellness, on Tuesday. It’s a terrific four-part class that you can take as a self-study course (you go at your own pace and at your convenience; you also keep the materials forever so they become a go-to resource). You can register for the class here. Our class delved deeper into the traits of well-being we discussed in last month’s free webinar, Turning...

“Say a Good Goodbye”

As we look forward to Thanksgiving, I am reminded of advice that I read long ago. It was to “say a good goodbye.” Remember that on 9/11 those people who knew they were about to die called those they cared about to tell them they loved them. This author suggested that we not wait until the end of life to tell people we love them. He suggested that we regularly sit down and think about what we would say to...

Webinar Follow-Up: What Steps Will You Take Toward Your Holiday Vision?

Yesterday, during our free webinar, Say Yes to the Best Holiday Ever By Saying No, you created a vision for a very special time during the holiday season. Then, you committed to taking three actions steps to make your vision a reality. So, I’d love to know, what’s at least one of the steps you’ll take this week? (And, if you want to share your vision for your special time, feel free.) (If you...

Are You Caregiving and Working?

In this week’s poll, sponsored by Caregiving.com and eCareDiary.com, we ask: Are you caregiving and working a full-time or part-time job? Are You Serving as a Caregiver and Working either Full or Part Time?survey...

64% of Working Sandwich Generation Say They Live Paycheck to Paycheck

Being a member of the working sandwich generation—those who are holding down a full-time job while raising children and simultaneously serving as a caregiver for older relatives—comes with a steep price tag. New findings released last week from MetLife’s 8th Annual Employee Benefits Trends Study help quantify some of the pressures and costs and increasingly point to the workplace as a potential...

Book Club Talk: A Memoir of Yesterday, In Process for Tomorrow

This afternoon, we had our book club discussion on Your Caregiving Journey. Emily Placido joined us to discuss her memoir, Julita’s Sands. You can listen to our discussion via the player at the bottom of the post. As we closed the show, we discussed Emily’s life after caregiving, which has been quite difficult. To recover, she headed to Italy for a year to write her book. As you listen to Emily describe...

What’s Your Tip for a Good Night’s Sleep?

This morning on Your Caregiving Journey, Elizabeth Lombardo, author of A Happy You, Your Ultimate Prescription for Happiness, joined us to share tips on getting a good night’s sleep. You can listen to our discussion via the player at the bottom of the post. In a caregiving life, you may feel that a good night’s sleep is gone forever. Elizabeth shared some simple tips to help you get the sleep you need,...

Costs of Long-Term Care Continue to Rise

Nursing home and assisted living rates rose significantly from 2009 to 2010, according to the Market Survey of Long-Term Care Costs compiled by MetLife Mature Market Institute. Private room nursing home rates rose 4.6% to $229 per day or $83,585 per year, while assisted living rose 5.2% on average to $3,293 per month, or $39,516 per year. These increases come on top of increases from 2008 to 2009 when both nursing...

Peace of Mind

Insurance companies promise you can purchase peace of mind from them. Buy your insurance for your home and car. But, save your money for the peace of mind. Here’s why: Peace of mind comes from acceptance of time. When we accept this time in our life, no matter how discouraging this time may be, we give ourselves peace of mind. When we accept our caree’s time in this life, that their time is on time, we...

Be Sure to Register for Our Upcoming Caregiving Conference

Caregiving.com is sponsoring two days of learning, sharing and comforting on Saturday, November 6, and Sunday, November 7, at Sunrise Assisted Living of Lincoln Park, 2710 N. Clark St., Chicago. The conference takes place during National Family Caregivers Month, which is November. The deadline to register is Friday, October 29. You can register here. The conference will tackle the struggles common to the caregiving...

Shopping Lesson

This weekend was our “big” shopping weekend. I have been taking my brother along shopping with me. I have told him that I need the help lifting and carrying things since I had my hand surgery, which is true. It also makes him feel useful and gets him out of the house. It also tends to be stressful for me, since I have to walk slower so that he can keep up with me and I always need to keep an eye on him so that...

“My Place”

Recently, I decided to make some changes in our guest room to make an office space for me!  From promptings on the site, and seeing the needs grow in our kitchen (which is becoming inundated with paper) I decided to start the project. To the right, are the before and after pictures. (:  One coat of paint and a few trips lugging things to the basement and I was there! Now, I have a space where bills can be...

Help from a Hospitalist

On Friday, Dr. Janet Huber, a hospitalist, joined us on Your Caregiving Journey. She shared the reason for a hospitalist and tips to help you work with one during your caree’s next hospitalization. Chance are, a hospitalist, rather than a primary care physician, will provide care during your caree’s hospitalization. (You can listen to our show via the player at the bottom of the post.) In addition,...

Table Talk Will Add Happiness for You

On Saturdays, we air Table Talk on Your Caregiving Journey and we make a commitment to enjoy moments of happiness. I think you’ll find that today’s Table Talk will very much add happiness to your day. Holly joined me to talk about her caregiving experience. You’ll find her energy to be captivating and comforting. You can listen to our show via the player below. (And, you learn more about Holly by...